TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday awarded the Order of Brilliant Star to Marketa Pekarova Adamova, former president of the Czech Republic’s Chamber of Deputies, in recognition of her contributions to advancing ties between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Presenting Taiwan’s highest civilian honor at the Presidential Office, Lai praised Adamova as a longtime friend of Taiwan and thanked her for her efforts to deepen bilateral relations over the years. He said he hoped the two countries would continue to expand their cooperation and write a new chapter in their partnership, per CNA.
Lai noted that Adamova led a delegation of more than 160 people to Taiwan in 2023 despite strong external pressure, calling the visit a milestone in Taiwan-Czech relations. He recalled her speech during the visit, in which she emphasized the spirit of “standing together with Taiwan.”
The president also cited Adamova’s remarks at the Smart City Summit & Expo in Taipei in 2023, where she said Taiwan and the Czech Republic “stand together today, stand together in the future, and will stand together under any circumstances.” Lai said that Tuesday’s meeting further demonstrated the growing strength of the friendship between the two nations over time.
Lai said Adamova has long been a courageous voice for peace across the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region. He credited her with promoting pro-Taiwan resolutions in the Czech Parliament, supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, and personally facilitating the exhibition of National Palace Museum artifacts in the Czech Republic.
In recent years, Lai said, cooperation in trade, investment, and technology has continued to deepen, with numerous memorandums of understanding signed and yielding results. More Taiwanese companies are investing in the Czech Republic, while cooperation in aviation and industry has also expanded.
“These achievements show that the Taiwan-Czech partnership is not only grounded in shared values, but also has substantial and long-term economic potential,” Lai said.
He quoted a passage from Adamova’s book, “I Am Not Made of Sugar, Nor of Iron,” which states that democratic countries’ engagement with Taiwan is not a provocation of China but a fulfillment of their commitment to democracy and freedom. Lai said the belief that democracies should not abandon Taiwan was deeply moving.
Lai added that even after leaving politics, Adamova remains a key driving force for Taiwan-Czech cooperation and reaffirmed that Taiwan will stand with the Czech Republic and other democratic partners now and in the future.
Adamova expressed her support for Taiwan and its peaceful future, saying Taiwan deserves to live in security, dignity, and prosperity, freely shaping its own destiny and contributing to the global community.
“This medal is not only a great personal honor for me; I receive it as a symbol of friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic and as a commitment to continue building bridges between our countries, our cultures, and our people,” she said.
